Photos by cragmar

Photos

The Petard found off Valley of Gods loop road. Standard route ascends the double-crack system on left side, then traverses right on large ledge, ultimately angling back left to summit via left skyline. The first pitch has some of the loosest rock I've encountered. Fortunately, it wasn't my lead...
The existing descent anchors on top are a poor solution, almost guaranteeing a jammed rope. A much better/quicker/safer (and exhilarating) descent would be a free air 2-rope rappel over the righthand roof. As of 2004 this preferred method didn't exist. Drill and pins anybody? Photo by Darren Singer

Big Indian Rock (left) and Arrowhead (right) as viewed from roadside parking area. New route on Arrowhead from May 2004 by Darren Singer and Lee Dyer ascends roughly the right skyline of Arrowhead. Summit attained at grade of 5.9+ / A1 (PG). Photo by Darren Singer.

Kachina Spires viewed from below after a long day. A lot of hiking for such a short amount of climbing - worth every minute. The approach to the tower base is way to the right of this photo, where the cliff band pinches to thinnest plane. The guidebook is not clear on this matter and left us hunting. The descent rappel brings you pretty much straight down between the towers on the facing wall with two ropes mandatory. Photo by Darren Singer.

At first glimpse, this image appears to be a misfire. Closer examination reveals a refrigerator-sized (VW?)block taking a 300 foot ride to the talus below. Why nobody had purposely (or by accident) knocked this block off the route is beyond me (I attempted a hand jam behind it and it moved...). This effort sets a personal best trundle, exceeding efforts in the Grand Cyn by at least 50%. Photo by Darren Singer.

I stopped the car in the middle of the road when the colors jumped out at me. La Sal Mountains viewed the day after a Spring storm with the Fisher Towers in the distance. Photo by Darren Singer, May 2004.